Leona M Lapier

In the early hours of February 25, 2021, in the comfort of her home, Leona M. LaPier made her peace on Earth and entered into God’s Kingdom.

Leona was born on October 14, 1932, in Sciota, N.Y. She graduated from Altona High School and went on to study at Loretta Business School. In 1955 she gave birth to her first of four children, Cathy Lee. Followed by Deborah Ann in 1957, Susan Marie in 1959, and Roland Roger in 1962. A single parent, she worked tirelessly to make sure her children never had to go without. A taxi driver, a bartender at The Pavilion in Rouses Point and later The Weathercock in Chazy, the post office, and the Chazy After School Program are just a few of the hats she wore in her life. She retired from the New York State Police Department after countless years of service as both Chazy & Plattsburgh’s station cleaner. But retirement wasn’t going to stop Leona, unable to sit still, she quickly took a job as a donut decorator at Dunkin Donuts in Plattsburgh where she continued to work full time until her body told her it was finally time to rest.

Leona was an active member of her community and spent countless hours volunteering wherever she was needed. She spent 45 years as a Girl Scout leader, guiding not only her daughters but her granddaughter through the experience. Five years of Head Start, ten plus years with the Chazy Senior Citizen’s council, over six years of teaching religion to the 1st & 2nd graders for the Chazy Catholic Church, and far too much more to list them all. She was nothing, if not giving. Her generosity & heart ensured that if you met her, she left a lasting impression. Leona believed that there was good in everyone, and in turn, everyone deserved to be loved. If you needed something, and she had it to give, it was yours. If she didn’t, she would find a way. She touched so many lives in her time on Earth.

Nothing was more important to Leona than family. Her four children grew up and started families of their own. Leona continued to take an active role in their lives and was never more than a phone call away. Soon came her first grandchild, followed by a subsequent five more. Leona loved nothing more than spending time with her grandbabies. Spoiling them quickly became her favorite pastime. After Leona’s mother, Margaret fell and broke her hip Leona, still working full time, took her mother into her home and cared for her until she passed away peacefully. Leona enjoyed getting out of the house and adventuring. Going to visit the buffalo at Miners Institute with her grandchildren, attending mass at St. Anne’s shrine in Vt, going to Long Lake and Newcomb to visit her sisters, going on camping retreats with the church, taking vacations to Disney with her friends, traveling to Niagara Falls with the Girl Scouts, visiting her daughter Susie in Watertown and even up until days before her passing trekking to the Akwesasne Casino, Leona was never one to sit still. She enjoyed life to the fullest. She shared her knowledge and her love with every person she encountered. She devoted her life to God and did her best every day to truly live by his word. She was a one-of-a-kind individual and will be missed so deeply.

Leona was preceded in death by her mother and father, Margaret and Arthur Jubert, sisters Pauline Roberts and Helen O’Donnell, nephew, Timothy Tellstone, and daughter-in-law, Deanna LaPier. She is survived by her loving daughters Deborah DeCosta, Cathy (David) Matott, and Susan McCready; her son Roland LaPier Jr; her seven grandchildren Corileigh DeCosta, Joshua Matott, Courtney Lapier, Adam Matott, Richard DeCosta, Whitney Lapier, and John McCready. One sister, Shirley and her husband Joseph Tellstone. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren as well as countless nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, March 1, 2021 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Brown Funeral Home, 3123 Miner Farm Road in Altona. Face masks and social distancing are required. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. Interment will be in the parish cemetery on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 following a 9:00 am Memorial Mass. Arrangements are entrusted to the Brown Funeral Home, 3123 Miner Farm Road, Altona, NY 12910. Online condolences may be offered at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com